TY - JOUR

T1 - Iterations as the result of social and technical factors

T2 - empirical evidence from a large-scale design project

AU - Piccolo, Sebastiano A.

AU - Maier, Anja M.

AU - Lehmann, Sune

AU - McMahon, Chris A.

PY - 2019/4/1

Y1 - 2019/4/1

N2 - Understanding the role of iterations is an important topic within design research and design practice. Iterations often involve rework and thus often increased costs and completion time. Many theories and studies ascribe iterations either to the social or technical complexity of the design process. Here, we join the two perspectives by analysing metadata of more than 3000 documents produced during the design of a biomass power plant. We gain insights by using network analysis and by visualising the temporal unfolding of the design process. Subsequently, we develop a statistical model to rigorously test multiple hypotheses showing that iterations are a combination of technical and social factors. The paper shows that iterations increase when the number of stakeholders/participants increases and when external suppliers are involved. Iterations are lower in presence of integrative activities. Furthermore, the paper shows the existence of synergistic interactions between nodes’ in-going and out-going flow in both activity and team networks associated with an increase in iterations.

AB - Understanding the role of iterations is an important topic within design research and design practice. Iterations often involve rework and thus often increased costs and completion time. Many theories and studies ascribe iterations either to the social or technical complexity of the design process. Here, we join the two perspectives by analysing metadata of more than 3000 documents produced during the design of a biomass power plant. We gain insights by using network analysis and by visualising the temporal unfolding of the design process. Subsequently, we develop a statistical model to rigorously test multiple hypotheses showing that iterations are a combination of technical and social factors. The paper shows that iterations increase when the number of stakeholders/participants increases and when external suppliers are involved. Iterations are lower in presence of integrative activities. Furthermore, the paper shows the existence of synergistic interactions between nodes’ in-going and out-going flow in both activity and team networks associated with an increase in iterations.

KW - Iterations

KW - Modularity

KW - Organisational structure

KW - Process architecture

KW - Stakeholder

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055486398&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s00163-018-0301-z

DO - 10.1007/s00163-018-0301-z

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85055486398

VL - 30

SP - 251

EP - 270

JO - Research in Engineering Design

JF - Research in Engineering Design

SN - 0934-9839

IS - 2

ER -